FEDERAL AGENCY:

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA), NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE (NOS), DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

AUTHORIZATION:

Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, Title II, Section 201 and 202, Public Law 92-532; National Ocean Pollution Planning Act of 1978, Section 6, Public Law 95-273; and Executive Order 13158.

To determine the long-term consequences of human activities which affect the coastal and marine environment; to assess the consequences of these activities in terms of ecological, economic, and social impacts upon human, physical and biotic environments, and to define and evaluate management alternatives which minimize adverse consequences of human use of the coastal and marine environments and resources. Executive Order 13158 directs Federal agencies to work collaboratively with public and private interests to develop a science- based framework for the national system of marine protected areas (MPAs). To insure compliance with this order, NCCOS is intending to conduct an integrated assessment (IA) examining the impacts of various marine resources uses on sustainable fisheries, biodiversity, and submerged cultural artifacts and looking at how a network of MPAs can be used to manage those impacts. The assessment is intended to provide scientific information that can be used to evaluate the existing system, evaluate options for future potential action, and identify gaps in our understanding of this issue. The IA will give stakeholders in the area a process for evaluating alternative methods of implementing E.O. 13158 and a product that 1) identifies objectives and priorities for marine protection and habitat enhancement, 2) outlines agreed-upon actions and implementation plans to achieve marine protection and habitat enhancement benefits, 3) serves as a tool for subsequent IAs, and 4) maintains or improves ecosystem health and the health of high priority, at-risk species. This assessment will be conducted in collaboration with NOAA's MPA Center, National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS), Non-Governmental Offices (NGO) and academic partners. Integrated assessments serve as a formal bridge between science and management to integrate the best existing scientific information for use by coastal managers. Integrated assessments 1) document status and trends of ecosystem and cultural resource conditions, 2) relate those trends to their environmental and economic causes and consequences, 3) predict outcomes of alternative management actions, and 4) review means to implement those alternatives. A successful IA is responsive to policy-relevant questions, based on peer review and public participation, broadly integrated and synthetic, based on high-quality existing information, and predictive.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Universities, colleges, junior colleges, technical schools, institutes, laboratories, State and local government agencies, public or private, profit or nonprofit entities or individuals.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Organizations and individuals with demonstrated professional expertise in determining, assessing and portraying the temporal and spatial distribution of chemical contaminants and their impact upon physical, biotic and human environments, particularly coastal ecosystems. With regard to the IA competitive program element, organizations and individuals with interests in a national system of marine protected areas (MPAs).

Credentials/Documentation:   None. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for institutions of higher education, with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments, OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations; and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 31.2, Contracts with Commercial Organizations, codified at 48 CFR 31.2.

Pre-application Coordination:   The standard application forms, as furnished by NOAA and required by 15 CFR Part 24, must be used when applying for Federal funding. These forms can be obtained from the NOAA Grants Management Division. Informal pre-application conferences are recommended. Consultation and assistance is available from NOAA in the preparation of an application. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:   A standard application form (SF-424) should be submitted with a statement of work and estimated budget to the National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (N/SCI,) 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. This program is subject to the requirements of CFR Part 14, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, Other Nonprofit and Commercial Organizations, which replaces OMB Circular No. A-110 as the administrative rules applicable to these awards. In addition, this program is subject to the requirements of 15 CFR Part 24, "Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments", which replaces OMB A-102 as the administrative rule applicable to these awards. Applicable administrative requirements and cost principles are identified in each award and are incorporated into the award by reference.

Award Procedure:   Awards are made on the basis of proposal evaluation. For the IA competitive program element, awards are made on the basis of competitive peer review of proposals.

Deadlines:   No specific deadlines for proposal submission. Proposals will be reviewed several times a year. For the IA competitive program element, proposals must be submitted in accordance with instructions published in the Federal Register notice. The deadline date will be at least thirty days after the date of publication in the Federal Register.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 90 to 120 days from the time of proposal receipt.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   By application to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Support for projects may be provided for periods up to 5 years in annual increments. Funds are released as required.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Semi-annual and final performance reports; quarterly and final financial reports, and other special reports as may be required on a case-by-case basis.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133, recipients that are States, Local Governments, Nonprofit Organizations, and Institutions of Higher Learning shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507). Commercial organizations shall be subject to the audit requirements as stipulated in the award document.

Records:   All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports, and other records of grantees or sub grantees are required to be maintained by the terms of the agreement (OMB Circular No. A110 for institutions of higher education and other nonprofit organizations and with 15 CFS Part 24 for State and local governments). The grantee must retain records for three years from the date when the final expenditure report is submitted.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   13-1450-0-1-306.

Obligations:   (Grants/Cooperative Agreements) FY 01 $8,000,000; FY 02 est $10,000,000; and FY 03 est $10,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   $20,000 to $550,000. Average: $250,000.

Accomplishments vary from year to year based on the specific mix of cooperative agreements actually funded.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

None.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   None.

Headquarters Office:   National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (N/SCI), 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Web Site Address:   http://www.nccos.noaa.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Analyses of estuarine and marine contaminants, habitats, and natural resources, as they pertain to coastal ecosystems health and biodiversity. Development of a data set of characteristics of the Nation's coasts and oceans including erosion rates, coastal vulnerability indices and coastal hazards for incorporation into a geographic Information System and other microcomputer desktop information systems for further analysis.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

For competitive grants/cooperative agreements, criteria for selecting proposals is contained in the individual program solicitation. For non-competitive grants, applications received by NCCOS are reviewed for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with all program requirements. Final funding decisions will be constrained by the actual amount of agency funding available and changes in programmatic priorities.